MVN: Most Valuable Network

I was on the Angels baseball Web site the other day and I noticed that the team has put up a list of top moments from the 2008 regular season that fans can vote on for the top moments of the season. However, some of the moments at the Angels’ site I disagreed with – such as Texieira’s grand slam which was proven moot because the Yankees came back to win.

So I decided to put together my own Top Ten list ranked in order from 10 (significant) to 1 (most significant). In some cases I did not rank individual plays but rather moments or events from the season. Other things that are notable (like Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo holding the Dodgers hitless in a 0-1 loss) were not included because they involve our least favorite thing here at Big A Baseball – an Angels loss.

So without further ado, my Top 10 list from the Angels 2008 regular season:

10. August 9, 2008 – The Angels score eight in the eighth and beat the Yankees 11-4 in front of a nationally-televised audience.

Reason for its ranking here: The Angels have played the Yankees well for more than 10 years but this beatdown reminded a national audience of that and brought up memories of the clinching game of the 2002 ALDS.

9. September 11, 2008 – Francisco Rodriguez ties the major league record for most saves in a season with save No. 57 against the Mariners.

Reason for its ranking here: We knew it was inevitable but this save tied the White Sox’s Bobby Thigpen for the Major League record.

8. June 1, 2008 – Maicier Izturis hits a bloop single to give the Angels a 4-3 win and their fourth walk-off win of the home stand.

Reason for its ranking here: This was a game where I had written the Angels off only to find they could eke out one more win against a pretty tough closer in B.J. Ryan of the Blue Jays.

7. August 29 and 30, 2008 – Torii Hunter robs Rangers’ batters of home runs on back to back nights, helping preserve two Angel wins.

Reason for its ranking here: This series was the Rangers’ last gasp and chance to make a significant dent in the standings; Hunter’s catches made sure the Rangers remained far back in second.

6. July 29, 2008- On the same day the Angels acquire Mark Teixeira, John Lackey nearly tosses a no-hitter against the Red Sox, finishing with a 6-2 win in Boston on the way to another sweep of the Sox

Reason for its ranking here: The Angels swept the series in Boston a day later, giving the Angels an 8-1 record against the Red Sox during the regular season. Lackey’s pitching started the series on a good foot. While there is a huge difference between the postseason and the regular season, going 8-1 against the Red Sox during the regular season can only help the Halos as Boston looms as a particular first-round opponent in the ALDS.

5. September 13, 2008 – Francisco Rodriguez gets save No. 58, breaking the Major League record in a 5-2 victory over the Mariners.

Reason for its ranking here: Duh.

But it is not a higher-ranked moment simply because K-Rod’s record came in part because of the Angels playing so many close games. The saves record, while cool, is not as great as say a home run chase or a .400 average.

4. September 10, 2008 – The Angels’ clinch their fourth AL West title in five years with a win over the Yankees and a loss by the Rangers

Reason for its ranking here: The Angels, perennial underachievers since the franchise began in 1961, continue their winning ways. Here are some of the significant facts you may have missed:

2008 was the fifth straight year the team finished above .500, which has never been done before. It is the team’s fourth division title in five years, one more than the three division titles the team had won in the previous 43 years. The division title is the Angels’ fifth playoff appearance in seven years – something the Angels’ crosstown rival, the Dodgers, have not done since coming to Southern California.

3. July 29, 2008 – The Angels acquire Mark Teixeira for Casey Kotchman and a minor leaguer in the team’s first major deadline deal – ever.

Reason for its ranking here: Double duh. For years Angels fans watched as other teams acquired “big bats” before the trading deadline only to watch as General Manager Bill Stoneman stood back and let others deal. (And in some cases, those non-deals he did turned out OK; where would the Angels be without some of their starters such as Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders this year?)

But the Teixeira deal made the Angels favorites to go deep into the postseason and showed that new Angels General Manager Tony Reagins is as willing to take risks in the front office as his players are willing to on the field.

2. July 20, 2008 – Casey Kotchman’s two-run double caps three-run comeback for 5-3 win and Angels sweep the Red Sox at home.

Reason for its ranking here: This was the series the Angels played right after the All-Star break. At this point, the Angels had not quite run away with the division lead yet and if they had fallen flat on their face in this series and been swept, the A’s and Rangers might yet have crept into the race. However, a key Kotchman hit and the Angels were on their way to a great post-All-Star break start and a sweep over an AL east team that has been a thorn in the team’s side.

1. April 7, 2008 – Torii Hunter hits a bottom of the ninth grand slam to beat the Indians.

Reason for its ranking here: In the Angels’ first homestand of the year, Torii Hunter made his impact and his presence felt with his new club with a grand slam off of a shaky Joe Borowski. While it came early in the season, it has not been forgotten in the minds of Angels fans and got the team an early feel good win.

Having written this Top 10 list, one thing has stood out – and that has been this season has featured contributions from just about every member of the team – with the possible exception of Justin Speier. Guys like Robb Quinlan have stepped up and delivered key hits in situations (such as the day the Angels clinched and he knocked in the winning runs) or guys like Jose Arredondo have come in and delivered quality middle relief work when guys like Speier had failed in that role. All season long, just about every Angels player has delivered a key hit at one time or another. For example, guys who have delivered walk-off hits this season are Garret Anderson, Gary Matthews, Jr., Juan Rivera, Maicier Izturis, Chone Figgins and Mike Napoli. Some of the big guys like Vladimir Guerrero and Mark Teixeira have not delivered game-winning hits but have contributed in other ways. And it seemed for much of the early part of the season, the dearly departed (for Atlanta) Casey Kotchman was carrying the offense with key hits early in the game.

Here is to at least 10 more and (maybe more) great moments in the 2008 postseason.